November 16, 1999
Contact: Bunny Smith, University Relations, (785) 864-8860.
LAWRENCE -- The Lt. Waldo "Bud" Monroe Police Command Center at the University of Kansas' Memorial Stadium will be dedicated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, prior to kickoff for the KU-Iowa State football game.
KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Provost David Shulenburger will join representatives from the KU Public Safety Office and the KU Athletic Corporation to dedicate the room in memory of Monroe, who was a KU police officer for 21 years and also a well-known Lawrence businessman.
The Monroe Police Command Center will be used as the central command and communication point for all police and emergency medical services for football games, commencement and other major events at Memorial Stadium. The room also will function as a police training room when not being used for events.
Monroe retired in 1986 after 21 years as a patrol officer, sergeant, investigator and lieutenant at KU. Following his retirement, Monroe worked part time for the athletic corporation providing security at athletic events facilities such as Allen Field House.
He was known in the city's black community as the owner of Bud's Barbershop, located at Fifth and Michigan streets. Before desegregation, his barbershop was one of the few places in Lawrence that provided haircuts to blacks, and Monroe was well known to many of KU's black student athletes. Monroe died last February. His wife, Katherine, and other family members will attend the dedication ceremony.